Grinding the teeth and clenching the jaws are called bruxism. It generally happens in sleep, when the person is unaware of what’s happening. Sleepers awaken with sore jaws and possibly headaches. The teeth are damaged as well. Here’s what sleepers should know when looking into treatments for teeth grinding in Tampa, FL.
Not Only Teeth Are Involved
If severe, it is not only the teeth are ground down, split, or cracked. The lower jaw joints, called temporomandibular joints, facilitate jaw movement. Bruxism makes these joints sore and can lead to headaches and earaches. The jaws can make popping noises, and the gums can become sore.
It May Have Behavioral Causes
Stress is a fact of life. It causes mayhem in both mind and body. Bruxism often occurs when the person is stressed, depressed, anxious, or concentrating exceedingly on something. Studies have shown that the brain activity and the heart rate rise before bruxism occurs, which tells researchers that the central nervous system is involved.
Other Health Conditions Factor in Bruxism
Neurological states like Parkinson’s or Huntington’s diseases may cause teeth grinding. Other conditions causing bruxism include alcohol use, tobacco use, sleep apnea, snoring, and some medications such as antidepressants, amphetamines, and anti-psychotics.
Aging
Seniors may become teeth grinders later in life due to the stress of growing older, their bodies not being as healthy as in their youth, and the depression common to some elderly persons.
Children Grind Teeth More Than Adults
As baby teeth fall out and adult teeth grow in, children tend to grind their teeth. When the adult teeth are fully in, the grinding usually stops. Boys tend to grind their teeth more than girls.
Treatment
Doctors that treat teeth grinding in Tampa, FL, can fit sleepers with a mouth guard that stops the teeth from grinding. Jaw joint pain, headaches, and earaches will be a thing of the past. Lifestyle changes such as mindfulness, yoga, or soothing music might be explored as a way of mitigating the stress behind bruxism.
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